Steering Group

Ana Clemente (Spokesperson) is a postdoctoral researcher at the Department of Cognitive Neuropsychology at the Max Planck Institute for Empirical Aesthetics in Frankfurt. Cognitive neuroscientist and accomplished musician, she uses music as a model domain to uncover the computational and neuropsychological mechanisms of human cognition and behaviour, with a particular focus on expertise and creativity. In her capacity as Spokesperson of PostdocNet, she is committed to strengthening communication and visibility, advocating for fair and sustainable working conditions, building a more connected and supportive network, and ensuring continuity and transparency. She can be reached at: spokesperson@postdocnet.mpg.de.

Miriam Kretschmer (Deputy Spokesperson) is a postdoctoral researcher at the Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry. She is part of the Department of Genes and Environment where she focuses on the impact of stress signaling on the epigenome during neurodevelopment. She is commited to improve interdisciplinary exchange and collaboration of early stage reserachers within the Max Planck Society to enable professional growth. She can be reached at: deputy.spokesperson@postdocnet.mpg.de

Robert Middeke-Conlin (General Secretary) is a postdoctoral researcher at the Max Planck Institute of Geoanthropology in Jena, Germany, where he examines cognition, knowledge, and collective decision making in ancient Mesopotamia and is busily cataloging and preserving the Peter Damerow Nachlass. Robert has written two books, “The Making of a Scribe: Errors, Mistakes and Rounding Numbers in the Old Babylonian Kingdom of Larsa”, and "Knowledge, Literacy, and Elementary Education in the Old Babylonian period”. As General Secretary, Robert will endeavor to facilitate continued representation throughout the current network, expand representation to institutes that lack postdoctoral representation, and improve communication within and between postdoctoral networks. He can be reached at: general.secretary@postdocnet.mpg.de

Angela Albi (BMS Representative) is a postdoctoral researcher in the Department of Collective Behaviour at the Max Planck Institute of Animal Behaviour. Her research explores the mechanisms and ecological significance of how and why animals move together, and how individual interactions shape collective behaviour. For her research she is studying predator-prey interactions between groups of blacktip reef sharks and large fish schools in the Maldives. Using detailed tracking technology and behavioural analysis, she aims to reveal new insights into predator hunting strategies and prey collective responses in their natural environments. She can be reached at: bms.rep@postdocnet.mpg.de

Anahita Khammari (CPTS Representative) is a postdoctoral researcher at the Max Planck Institute for Dynamics of Complex Technical Systems. Her research focuses mainly on applying molecular dynamics simulations to investigate complex biological systems, and, depending on the nature of the project, she also employs spectroscopic methods. Her research activities include the design of inhibitors targeting the ubiquitin pathway, the identification of critical sites involved in aggregation processes associated with neurodegenerative and prion diseases, and the investigation of protein-ligand, protein-peptide, protein-protein, and protein-membrane interactions using diverse computational approaches. In addition, she has been involved in interdisciplinary projects, is interested in the design and optimization of biocompatible polymers, and has worked to enhance lithium-ion battery performance by identifying optimal electrolyte concentrations. In her role as a representative of physical chemistry in technological research, she seeks to strengthen interdisciplinary exchange and foster collaboration with mental health research groups to enhance resilience and productivity within the work culture. She can be reached at: cpts.rep@postdocnet.mpg.de

Mimi Cheng (HSS Representative) is a cultural historian and postdoctoral researcher at the Kunsthistorisches Institut in Florenz—Max-Planck-Institut, where she is working on a book project about modern maps and mapmaking practices in nineteenth-century China. As a member of the PostdocNet steering group, she is committed to equity and transparency and looks forward to working with the HSS institutes to enhance access to resources and opportunities for professional growth. She can be reached at: hss.rep@postdocnet.mpg.de

Qi Ding (Financial Officer) is a postdoc at the Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology in Jena, supported by the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation. Her research focuses on the biosynthesis of plant natural products, using multi-omics approaches to identify enzymes involved in their pathways and to study their evolutionary mechanism. Qi aims to support Postdocs through workshops and initiatives that foster career development and networking.She can be reached at financial.officer@postdocnet.mpg.de.